Russia so far non-compliant with anti-bribery convention

Russia has so far failed to bring its anti-bribery policy in strict compliance with the convention of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

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PARIS, October 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russia has so far failed to bring its anti-bribery policy in strict compliance with the convention of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), says the Organization’s report released on Thursday.

“Despite certain progress” demonstrated by Russia in fighting international bribery, the OECD analysts still believe Moscow officials need to take additional legislative measures.

“Russia has yet to address key provisions of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in Russia in April 2012,” says the report. “It has not yet fully implemented recommendations for strengthening its framework for combating foreign bribery and should be more proactive in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery cases.”

In particular, the experts suggested toughening prosecution, taking measures that would allow for confiscating bribes, improving co-ordination of law enforcement agencies in charge, and raising the profile of foreign bribery in the overall anti-corruption campaign. The OECD specifically recommended targeting Russian companies and individuals operating internationally.

At the same time, the OECD anti-corruption division noted a number of positive aspects in Russia’s efforts to fight bribery, among them disallowance of the tax deductibility of bribes to foreign public officials, a statutory requirement for companies in Russia to have anti-corruption measures in place and assistance in investigations of foreign bribery.

The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention was signed in 1997 and took effect two years later. The participants are to institute criminal liability for attempts to bribe foreign officials and agree to undergo systematic reviews of implementation of anti-bribery laws. Forty countries have adopted the Convention so far. Russia joined it in April 2012.

The next report that will assess Russia’s implementation of the present recommendations is to be issued in late 2014.